“Christ, the Savior is born.” Those powerful words, excerpted from “Silent Night” exemplify the meaning of Christmas. Truly, Christmas is “the most wonderful time of the year,” as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Sure the fruitcakes, decorations, and gifts play a role in the jubilance of Christmas, but none of those things supplant…

Talented musician Kevin LeVar isn’t your average gospel artist by any means. On his second album, Destiny! Live at the Dream Center and More, LeVar & One Voice deliver an inspirational effort that transcends gospel in its truest sense, incorporating elements of various musical genres. LeVar’s adventurousness pays off big, as Destiny! Easily ranks among…

One of gospel music’s smoothest, yet dynamic voices belongs to no other than Grammy-winner, Smokie Norful. A true soldier for the lord and nothing short of tremendous beacon within gospel music, Smokie Norful's albums always deliver. The highly anticipated Forever Yours proves no different from the rest – it’s “Um Good.” “Mighty God” energetically…

Contemporary gospel artist Kierra “KiKi” Sheard returns following a three-year hiatus with her latest studio album Graceland. Throughout Graceland, the production matches the sound of modern pop, including cues from contemporary R&B, hip-hop, and electronic. Why stylistically the youthful Sheard is progressive, vocally, she retains the description of a powerhouse vocalist, suited for gospel by…

On her latest album Power & Authority (Live in Memphis), gospel powerhouse Sheri Jones-Moffett delivers an uplifting live album. The songs from the album focus on God’s ‘wonderworking power’ in addition to the importance and power of faith itself. Regardless of which of the eleven tracks one listens to, each provides a prudent message that’s…

Darnell Davis (and The Remnant) returns triumphantly with fourth LP Moving Forward. A thoughtful, incredibly devoted affair, Moving Forward is an album of ‘spiritual food’, meant to praise God and truly encourage the soul. With few if any miscues, Moving Forward is “just what the doctor…” – better yet the “soul” – ordered. “Nothing” opens…

Tina and Erica Campbell have been best associated as the popular contemporary gospel duo Mary Mary. While Mary Mary’s primary style is gospel, the duo has been able to crossover to urban audiences given its modern sound appealing to more youthful audiences. On 2014 LP Help however, Erica Campbell makes her solo debut without sister…

Gospel vet Donnie McClurkin releases his latest album, Duets, nearly six years following previous effort, We Are All One (Live In Detroit). Working with some of gospel’s brightest voices, McClurkin adds another uplifting LP to his discography. Duets isn’t innovative, never buying into contemporary gospel’s ‘radicalness’, but it’s a balanced effort that is both contemporary…

Wow Gospel 2014, like numerous past editions, is filled with notable gospel music singles from throughout the previous year, 2013 in this case. For the gospel music lover who missed out on a couple of gospel albums, Wow Gospel 2014 offers the opportunity to hear and collect some of the most uplifting and memorable gospel…

James Fortune represents the current generation of gospel music, a breed that seems to stretch the boundaries to an extent. Fortune’s music doesn't stick within the strictest confines of gospel tenets, but nor does it alienate gospel’s most recognizable cues stylistically, thematically, or lyrically. Fortune’s most recent double-album, Live Through It (with Fiya), showcases Fortune’s…